St Barts property listed at $67m sells within nine months

A lavish 7-acre estate with 160 metres of private beach and a 1.2 acre coconut grove, originally built by banker and businessman Benjamin de Rothschild in 2002, has sold after being listed at $67 million.

Known as “Girasol”, the 6-bedroom, 7-bathroom property along with its 600 plant species was listed with Christian Wattiau Managing Partner of Sibarth Real Estate while Christie’s International Real Estate took care of international marketing.

The recent owner, former hedge fund manager Bruce Kovner, purchased the property in 2005 and added a second pool and deck.

The extremely private property was listed in February of this year and sold with nine months. “The structures on the estate weathered the storm,” said Mr Wattiau. “The new buyer visited Girasol after it passed through and was pleased to proceed with the sale, a strong show of confidence in the enduring appeal of St Bart’s as a destination market to purchase real estate.”

Though the final sale price was not disclosed, a Christie’s representative shared that the buyer is a European businessman who intends to use Girasol as a vacation home.

“Hurricane Irma was a force to be reckoned with,” says Mr Moeser. “But even that historic storm couldn’t dampen the resolve of the island’s citizens and of international buyers looking to live among the splendor of St. Barth’s. While there is still work to be done, the island will recover and is already recovering, as evidenced by this significant sale.”